LONDON'S GLOBAL UNIVERSITY
Icelandic BA
UCAS code: R690
www.ucl.ac.uk/prospectus/elcs
Icelandic BA
UCL's four-year Icelandic BA is the only degree
programme of its kind outside Iceland. The
programme aims to develop your interest in, and
knowledge and understanding of Iceland and
the Nordic world, in areas including other
Scandinavian languages, literature, culture and
history. Your third year is spent abroad at the
University of Iceland.
Degree summary
•
•
Spend a year abroad at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik.
•
The Department of Scandinavian Studies at UCL is unique in the UK
in having specialists across the areas of language, politics, history,
medieval studies, literature and film.
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A broad range of course options, including Viking Studies, Old Norse,
modern Scandinavian languages, literary studies, film studies,
history, and cultural studies, together with the possibility to acquire
proficiency in a second Scandinavian language.
Access to the largest and oldest Scandinavian library in the country,
and the state-of-the-art facilities within the UCL Language Space.
In your first year, you will embark on an intensive study of modern
Icelandic language at beginner's level, and study a mainland
Scandinavian language (normally Danish), Old Norse, literary studies and
linguistics. In your second year, you will continue with language studies,
begin the study of Icelandic literature, and select optional courses.
You spend year three at the University of Iceland, taking a course in
Icelandic for foreign students. If you have chosen to transfer to Icelandic
with Danish, Norwegian or Swedish at the end of year one, you will take a
course in your mainland Scandinavian language while at Reykjavik also.
The final year is spent at UCL, where you will take advanced courses in
Modern Icelandic and Old Norse, continue your studies in Icelandic
Literature and take further course options. If you have transferred to
Icelandic with Danish, Norwegian or Swedish you will take advanced
courses in your mainland Scandinavian language also,
You will also take School of European Languages, Culture & Society
(ELCS) courses, which allow students to study literature, film, art and
culture from outside their subject area(s), focusing on broad cultural
movements, issues and approaches from an interdisciplinary perspective
and drawing on the full range of specialisms within the school.
Your learning
Teaching consists of a mixture of lectures, classes, seminars, group work
and presentations. Language elements comprise four taught hours a
week for basic language in year one, four hours a week for intermediate
language in year two, and two hours a week for advanced language in
the final year. Much of your work will be through guided independent
study. Language teaching is generally undertaken by native speakers.
Most courses are assessed by a mixture of coursework and written
examination. A few are assessed by essays only. Language courses are
assessed by coursework, a written and an oral examination. During your
year abroad, you will take courses at the host university and will complete
a Year Abroad Project.
Your career
Upon graduation you will be fluent in Modern Icelandic, and also have
knowledge of other medieval and modern Scandinavian languages.
Historical and literary studies will develop cultural awareness, and you
will be trained in organising, presenting and interpreting complex
information, in effective written and oral communication, and in
independent and group work.
Many of our graduates find they are able to use their Nordic languages in
a variety of contexts, such as working for a Scandinavian company.
Recent graduates have also entered translating, publishing and teaching.
First career destinations of recent graduates (2010-2013) of this
programme, and of related Scandinavian Studies programmes, include:
•
•
Computer Repair Specialist, Apple
•
Full-time student, MPhil in Anglo Saxon, Norse and Celtic at the
University of Cambridge
Full-time student, MA Theoretical And Applied Linguistics at the
University of Cambridge
Degree structure
In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual courses,
normally valued at 0.5 or 1.0 credits, adding up to a total of 4.0 credits for
the year. Courses are assessed in the academic year in which they are
taken. The balance of compulsory and optional courses varies from
programme to programme and year to year. A 1.0 credit is considered
equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
Year Three
Year abroad
Year abroad in Iceland
Students will complete a 6,000-word Year Abroad Project in the target
language, and:
Any assessment required by a host university (if participating in a
university exchange), or:
A British Council Assistantship or work placement abroad.
Year One
Final Year
Compulsory courses
Compulsory courses
Basic Modern Icelandic
Basic language course in Danish, Norwegian or Swedish
Histories and Cultures of the Nordic Region
Introduction to Old Norse
Degree-level Modern Icelandic
Modern Icelandic Literature: Special Topics
Old Norse II
Optional courses
You will select 0.5 credits of optional courses from the following:
Introduction to Linguistics and the Scandinavian Languages
Nordic Storytelling
Vikings and Material Culture
You will also select 0.5 credits from a wide range of intermediate courses
offered by the School of European Languages, Culture and Society, which
may include:
Crime Fiction
Fairy Tales: Their Origin and Evolution
From the Picaresque to the Detective Novel
Minority Languages, Policy and Power in Europe
Political Cinema
Year Two
Compulsory courses
Intermediate Language course in Danish, Norwegian or Swedish
Intermediate Modern Icelandic Language
Old Norse I
Optional courses
You will select 1.5 credits of optional courses. Options may include:
Nordic Cinema
Nordic Landscapes
Nordic Politics and Society
The Nordic Welfare States
Scandinavian Literature in Context
Viking-Age Scandinavia
Introduction to Finnish Society and Culture
ELCS Intermediate Level courses
Students taking Icelandic with Danish, Norwegian or Swedish will take 0.5
credits of advanced-level courses in their mainland Scandinavian language
also.
Optional courses
You will select 2.0 credits of optional courses. Options may include:
Dissertation in Scandinavian Studies
Extended Essay in Scandinavian Studies
Nordic Cinema
Nordic Landscapes
Nordic Literature in a Global World
Nordic Politics and Society
The Nordic Welfare States
Reading Finnish Society and Culture
Scandinavian Social Democracy
The Vikings in Europe
ELCS Advanced Level courses
Students taking Icelandic with Danish, Norwegian or Swedish will take 1.5
credits of optional courses.
Entry requirements
A levels
A level grades
ABB
A level subjects
Foreign language preferred.
AS levels
For UK-based students a pass in a further subject
at AS level or equivalent is required.
GCSE
English Language at grade B, plus Mathematics
at grade C. For UK-based students, a grade C or
equivalent in a foreign language (other than
Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew or Latin) is
required. UCL provides opportunities to meet the
foreign language requirement following
enrolment, further details at:
www.ucl.ac.uk/ug-reqs
IB diploma
IB points
34
Subjects
A score of 16 points in three higher level
subjects, preferably including a foreign language,
with no score lower than 5.
If your application demonstrates that your academic ability and motivation
make you well suited to our degree and you receive an offer, then we
shall invite you to a post-offer Open Day, where you can experience the
sort of teaching which we offer and life in SELCS.
Fees
UK/EU fee
£9,000 (2016/17)
Overseas fee
£16,130 (2016/17)
Notes
Details about financial support are available at:
www.ucl.ac.uk/study/ug-finance
Contacts
Contact
Admissions Officer
Email
selcs.admissions@ucl.ac.uk
Telephone
+44 (0)20 7679 3096
Prospectus entry
www.ucl.ac.uk/prospectus/elcs
Key facts
REF
74% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3*
(‘internationally excellent’)
Department
School of European Languages, Culture and
Society
Faculty
Arts & Humanities
Other qualifications
Full lists of all degree programmes and other entry requirements can be
found on our website at: www.ucl.ac.uk/otherquals
Undergraduate Preparatory
Certificates
UCL's Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPCs) are intensive
one-year foundation courses for international students of high academic
potential, who are aiming to gain access to undergraduate degree
programmes at UCL and other top UK universities.
For more information see our website: www.ucl.ac.uk/upc
Your application
Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the
Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at
school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however,
applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United
Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.
Your personal statement should reflect your interests, hopes and goals,
especially as related to your proposed degree. Some
knowledge/experience of Icelandic culture, and an explanation of how
this has motivated you to learn more, is expected. We do not necessarily
require a language at A level or equivalent, but expect you to
demonstrate an enthusiasm and aptitude for language learning.
PDF Updated: February 19, 2016
Information correct at time of going to press. See website (www.ucl.ac.uk/prospectus/elcs) for latest information
Mrs Jo Wolff